Bitcoin Whales Return To Binance As Selloff Echoes February Panic

Bitcoin’s June correction is now being accompanied by a sharp rise in whale deposits to Binance, according to CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost, reviving a pattern last seen during the market’s February stress event. The data suggests that large holders are moving more BTC back onto the exchange as the selloff deepens, potentially adding near-term supply pressure. Darkfost said Bitcoin is down 14 in June, with the decline accelerating over the past several days. That move has pushed some investors into a more defensive posture, particularly large entities moving sizable amounts of BTC. In the analyst’s framework, whales are defined as entities executing transactions above 100 BTC, or more than 6 million at current prices. The most visible change has occurred on Binance. According to the post, whale inflows to the exchange reached approximately 8,200 BTC on June 2, followed by more than 6,400 BTC on June 4. More importantly, the trend has also shifted on a monthly basis: average whale inflows on Binance have risen from roughly 1,200 BTC since mid-April to more than 2,800 BTC today, meaning the figure has more than doubled in a matter of weeks. “On Binance, BTC inflows from whales have accelerated sharply,” Darkfost wrote, pointing to the June 2 and June 4 peaks. “On a longer-term basis, the monthly average of whale inflows on Binance has moved from approximately 1,200 BTC since mid-April to over 2,800 BTC today, more than doubling within a matter of weeks.” Bitcoin Whale Deposits Point To Rising Sell-Side Risk Exchange inflows do not mechanically prove that coins have already been sold. However, large transfers to trading venues are commonly watched as a proxy for potential sell-side intent, especially when they occur during a fast correction rather than during a period of accumulation or sideways consolidation. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Most Important Metric Flashes Warning As Bulls Fight To Hold 60K Darkfost framed the current increase in that context. “This dynamic suggests that the ongoing correction is pushing some whales to move their BTC back onto the exchange, presumably with the intention of selling,” the analyst wrote. “This behavior looks more like emotional risk management than a deliberate strategic decision.” That distinction matters for market interpretation. A strategic rebalance usually implies pre-planned execution, portfolio rotation, or a controlled reduction in exposure. Panic-driven exchange inflows, by contrast, tend to appear after price damage has already forced large holders to reassess risk. They may worsen near-term pressure, but they can also emerge late in a corrective sequence. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Great Wealth Transfer May Fuel Next Rally, Says CryptoQuant CEO Bitcoin was trading near 62,533 at the time of writing, after an intraday low of 61,407 and high of 64,380. That puts the market close to the levels referenced in Darkfost’s comparison with February, when whale inflow activity on Binance last reached a similar intensity during Bitcoin’s drop to 60,000. February Comparison Raises The Key Question The February reference is the central point of the analysis. Darkfost noted that the last comparable surge in Binance whale inflows came as Bitcoin fell below 60,000 earlier this year. In that case, the elevated inflows reflected stress after a sharp drawdown rather than an early warning signal ahead of the full move. “For reference, the last time whale inflow activity on Binance reached such levels was during Bitcoin’s drop below 60,000 in early February,” the analyst wrote. “This development introduces additional selling pressure in the short term. That said, panic-driven moves of this kind tend to arrive well after the fact, as was the case in February.” At press time, BTC traded at 62,332. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com